Site Search Navigation

Site Navigation

Site Mobile Navigation

When Super Tuesday Wasn’t Decisive: 1988

By Sewell Chan February 4, 2008 6:39 pmFebruary 4, 2008 6:39 pm

Michael and Kitty Dukakis celebrated his victory in the New York primary on April 19, 1988 — one of the few key presidential primary contests in New York history. (Photo: Jim Wilson/The New York Times)

If the contest between Senators Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton for the Democratic presidential nomination stretches past Super Tuesday, with a state-by-state battle for delegates that lasts well into the spring, election historians and political analysts might do well to look back at 1988, when a large field of contenders sought the Democratic presidential nomination, leading to a protracted battle for delegates that lasted for months.

Going into 1988, Democrats were still smarting from President Ronald Reagan’s landslide victory in 1984, in which former Vice President Walter F. Mondale had only captured one state — his native Minnesota. Eager to retake the White House after eight years of Republican rule, a large field of contenders sought the Democratic nomination.

In the early stages of the race, Gary Hart, the former Colorado senator who had nearly wrested the nomination from Mr. Mondale in 1984, was an early favorite, but in May 1987, his campaign imploded over revelations that Mr. Hart had been involved with a young actress and model, Donna Rice.

With Mr. Hart out of the race, the main field of contenders included Gov. Michael S. Dukakis of Massachusetts, the Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Representative Richard A. Gephardt of Missouri, Senator Al Gore of Tennessee, Senator Joseph R. Biden Jr. of Delaware, Senator Paul Simon of Illinois and Senator Lloyd Bentsen of Texas.

The contest remained wide open until March 8, Super Tuesday, which narrowed the field but failed to produce a clear front-runner. Mr. Dukakis won six primaries (including Texas, Florida and Massachusetts, the three largest states that had contests that day) while Mr. Gore and Mr. Jackson split the southern states. Mr. Gephardt was far behind.

The momentum was his as the race moved to New York, where the contest was dramatic and intense.

Mayor Edward I. Koch, citing what he saw as Mr. Jackson’s lack of support for Israel, said a Jew would be ”crazy” to vote for Mr. Jackson. Fernando Ferrer, then the Bronx borough president (who would later become the Democratic mayoral nominee, in 2005), backed Mr. Jackson, as did most of the city’s major Hispanic and black leaders.

But Mr. Jackson also got strong labor support, including an endorsement from Barry Feinstein, an influential Teamsters leader (and now a member of the board of directors of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority).

On April 10, Mr. Dukakis visited Astoria, a neighborhood in western Queens that historically had the city’s highest concentration of Greek immigrants. On April 12, Mr. Dukakis campaigned among Jewish voters in Borough Park, Brooklyn, Mr. Jackson stumped in the Bronx and even Vice President George H. W. Bush campaigned in New York City, throwing out a pitch at Shea Stadium in Queens. On April 14, Mayor Koch endorsed Mr. Gore, stunning New York’s political establishment and throwing a potential roadblock before Mr. Dukakis, who was leading in the polls.

Mr. Koch’s intervention didn’t stop Mr. Dukakis, On April 19, he won a decisive victory in the New York primary, taking 51 percent of the vote, compared with 37 percent for Mr. Jackson and 10 percent for Mr. Gore. “I love New York,” Mr. Dukakis declared in a victory statement at a Midtown Manhattan hotel. “Friends,” he added, borrowing a line from the Broadway song and Walter F. Mondale’s 1984 victory speech in New York, “if we can make it here, we can make it anywhere.” Mr. Dukakis overwhelmed Mr. Jackson in the New York suburbs and upstate. But Mr. Jackson outpolled Mr. Dukakis in New York City by about 6,000 votes out of roughly 900,000 cast.

In the general election on Nov. 8, Mr. Bush defeated Mr. Dukakis, sweeping the once-Democratic South and besting the Massachusetts governor in 40 of 50 states.

This is last in City Room’s series looking back at pivotal New York primaries. Read more Primary Journal blog entries from the New York region.

if the clintons are so polarizing to the democratic party, then my goodness, what will they do to the country and our government. it will be far worse than it was in the 90’s. americans will hate other americans with such animosity (and you can see it in some posts and blogs) that it will feel bad just to live in this country of red and blue states. i want a uniter, not a divider. please reject nepotism. enough bush, enough clinton. overcome this culture of fear we live in and vote for a new face, even if it’s mccain, but obama would be better.

Let’s make an important distinction here. The issue is not that the caucus is divisive, the issue is that the New York Times supports/endorses Hillary Clinton, the divisive candidate. Barack Obama brings people together and is the greatest hope for our generation – no political Old Guard Democratic political power, although even those eyes have also turned to the prize – Obama! Obama! Obama!

Obama, although enlightening in his speaches and seems like a nice guy, has no experience expect writing a book and campaigning in his first term.

CLinton, has too much baggage to be credible. She is the most divisive and close to Edwards on meaningless tired rhetoric. She should stick to real estate investing. She was good at it if memory serves.

Mcain is a democrat in republican clothing but is experienced. I could live with it but nort thrilled.

What's Next

Looking for New York Today?

New York Today is still going strong! Though no longer on City Room, New York Today continues to appear every weekday morning, offering a roundup of news and events for the city. You can find the latest New York Today at nytoday.com or in the morning, on The New York Times homepage or its New York section. You can also receive it via email.

Lookin for Metropolitan Diary?

Metropolitan Diary continues to publish! Since 1976, Metropolitan Diary has been a place for New Yorkers, past and present, to share odd fleeting moments in the city. We will continue to publish one item each weekday morning and a round-up in Monday's print edition. You can find the latest entries at nytimes.com/diary and on our New York section online.

About

City Room®, a news blog of live reporting, features and reader conversations about New York City, has been archived. Send questions or suggestions by e-mail.